17/08/2026
ππ’πππ ππππππ₯π¦πππ£: ππππππ‘π π§ππ πͺππ¬ π§π’ π πππ₯ππ¨πππ₯ ππ¨π§π¨π₯π | The transition to a circular economy needs national policies, private-sector innovation, and community participation. But it also needs strong leadership at the local level. For LGUs, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is not simply a matter of compliance. It is an opportunity to strengthen local waste management systems, bring stakeholders together, attract investments, and turn environmental commitments into concrete action.
LGUs are uniquely positioned to lead because they are closest to the communities where waste is generated, collected, recovered, and ultimately managed. Local leaders can help align EPR initiatives with local solid waste management plans, strengthen collection and recovery systems, support waste workers and community-based initiatives, and create an environment where private-sector and producer partnerships can thrive.
The experience of Isabela City demonstrates the importance of this local leadership. During the City's Local Inception Workshop for the transition toward a circular economy in January, DENR-EMB Region IX highlighted the important role of LGUs in EPR implementation, while reaffirming its support for the City's circular economy efforts.
Local leadership also means looking beyond waste collection and disposal. It means asking: What resources can we recover? What systems do we need? What investments can we attract? And how can our communities benefit from the transition? These are questions that require leaders willing to convene stakeholders, make evidence-based decisions, support innovation, and build partnerships.
The EPR Environmental Summit & Investment Forum 2026, hosted by the City Government of Isabela, brings this leadership agenda to the forefront. The Summit will gather LGUs, government agencies, producers, investors, development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and explore practical pathways toward stronger and more sustainable waste management.
The initiative is being undertaken in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesβEnvironmental Management Bureau IX, the Mindanao Development Authority, and the European UnionβPhilippines Green Economy Partnership through the Global Gateway Initiative.
Anchored on Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and Republic Act No. 11898, or the EPR Act of 2022, the Summit seeks to equip LGUs and stakeholders with updated knowledge, innovative approaches, and partnerships that can help accelerate the country's transition toward a circular economy.
